Graves opens door to Pietersen return

Incoming ECB chairman Colin Graves has given Kevin Pietersen a glimmer of hope to make an international return with England.

Graves will assume the top job in English cricket in mid-May, succeeding Giles Clarke, and the 67-year-old says the door is not shut on a potential Pietersen comeback.

The controversial batsman has not featured for his country in the last 12 months following the fallout from their dismal Ashes whitewash in Australia, with the 34-year-old subsequently banished from the international scene.

Pietersen has always suggested he is keen to play for his country again, and Graves has spelt out what must be done for that to become a possibility.

"The first thing he has to do if he wants to get back is start playing county cricket," Graves told BBC Radio 5's Sportsweek.

"The selectors and the coaches are not going to pick him if he's not playing, it's as simple as that. I'll leave it at that.

"At the end of the day it's down to the selectors and coaches and what they feel is best for English cricket. They will make the decisions and I will support their decisions."

Pietersen is England's all-time leading run scorer across all formats of the game, with 13,779 from 275 matches at an average of 44.30.